Mechanical wave generator and method thereof

A wave generator for emitting a desired mechanical output wave into a medium, the wave generator comprising:

• a wave emitter including:
• an elongated dispersive waveguide having a first end and a second end, when in operation the second end being at least partially in contact with the medium;
• and
• a source operatively connected to the first end of the dispersive waveguide covering at least partially a surface area of the first end, the source being operative to generate a mechanical input wave in the dispersive waveguide based on electrical signals input to the source;
• a signal generator in operative connection with the source, the signal generator being operative to create the electrical signals convertible by the source into the mechanical input wave in the dispersive waveguide;
• and
• a computer in operative connection with the signal generator, the computer having a processor and a machine-readable storage medium, the machine-readable storage medium containing instructions that when executed by the processor causes the signal generator to create electrical signals convertible by the source into the mechanical input wave,
• the mechanical input wave having at least two component waves, each of the at least two component waves having a unique associated predetermined propagation velocity through the dispersive waveguide, the at least two component waves having a first relative phase shift, the first relative phase shift being determined so as to be become, at the second end of the dispersive waveguide, a second relative phase shift different from the first relative phase shift owing to the predetermined propagation velocities through the dispersive waveguide of the at least two component waves.

A method of emitting a desired mechanical output wave into a medium, the method comprising:

• providing an elongated dispersive waveguide having a first end and a second end, the second end being at least partially in contact with the medium;
• determining the desired mechanical output wave;
• determining a mechanical input wave, the mechanical input wave having at least two component waves, each of at least two of the component waves having a unique predetermined propagation velocity through the dispersive waveguide, the mechanical input wave when inputted at the first end of the dispersive waveguide and once having propagated through the dispersive waveguide combining at least partially at the second end of the dispersive waveguide to form the desired mechanical output wave, the mechanical input wave being constructed (i) independently of data related to a mechanical wave received from a source in the medium and (ii) taking into account the different predetermined propagation velocities of the at least two component waves;
• generating the mechanical input wave at the first end of the dispersive waveguide;
• allowing the mechanical input wave to propagate through the dispersive waveguide toward the second end;
• combining the mechanical input wave to form the desired mechanical output wave at the second end of the dispersive waveguide owing to differences in the predetermined propagation velocities of the at least two component waves;
• and
• emitting the desired mechanical output wave into the medium at the second end of the dispersive waveguide.

A method of emitting a desired mechanical output wave into a medium, the method comprising:

• providing an elongated dispersive waveguide having a first end and a second end, the second end being at least partially in contact with the medium;
• determining the desired mechanical output wave;
• determining a mechanical input wave, the mechanical input wave having at least two component waves, each of the at least two component waves having a unique associated predetermined propagation velocity through the dispersive waveguide, the at least two component waves having a first relative phase shift, the first relative phase shift being determined so as to be become, at the second end of the dispersive waveguide, a second relative phase shift different from the first relative phase shift owing to the predetermined propagation velocities through the dispersive waveguide of the at least two component waves;
• generating the mechanical input wave at the first end of the dispersive waveguide;
• allowing the mechanical input wave to propagate through the dispersive waveguide toward the second end;
• combining the mechanical input wave to form the desired mechanical output wave at the second end of the dispersive waveguide owing to differences in the predetermined propagation velocities of the at least two component waves;
• and
• emitting the desired mechanical output wave into the medium at the second end of the dispersive waveguide.